In our American history, we have had various Supreme Court cases and important pieces of legislation that have helped the cause of African Americans as a minority group. Many of these cases have become a landmark in our history because without these, as a country we would not have taken many positive steps in increasing our civil rights for African Americans. One that specifically stands out and as created a large amount of opportunity for certain minority groups at the time was Plessy v. Ferguson (1896). Though Homer Plessy was seven-eighths white and only one eighth black, he was still considered black. He was jailed for sitting in a railroad car specifically for whites when he was supposed to sit in a railroad car designated for colored patrons. The court ended up ruling that the separate rail road cars were not violating the 13th and 14th amendment as long as they were deemed equal. Though African Americans did not have a lot of rights, considering their past, they had made a significant
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Ferguson did cause a setback in the civil rights movement for blacks; however, it really helped them in the long run with the amount of events it caused in its future. Elite white males and upper class individuals were the main reason for the original setbacks in African American development. The discrimination and constant segregation in public and educational settings didn’t allow any growth for the culture. White Americans were blinded by power and control. If African Americans had the same educational and occupational opportunities as whites did from the get-go, they probably wouldn’t have been looked down upon as much since they would have similar intelligence levels. To continue on that thought, if African Americans had higher intelligence levels, they would have a better chance at passing the literacy tests they were given in order to vote. They would also be able to pay poll taxes considering they would have better jobs than they did at the
Ferguson did cause a setback in the civil rights movement for blacks; however, it really helped them in the long run with the amount of events it caused in its future. Elite white males and upper class individuals were the main reason for the original setbacks in African American development. The discrimination and constant segregation in public and educational settings didn’t allow any growth for the culture. White Americans were blinded by power and control. If African Americans had the same educational and occupational opportunities as whites did from the get-go, they probably wouldn’t have been looked down upon as much since they would have similar intelligence levels. To continue on that thought, if African Americans had higher intelligence levels, they would have a better chance at passing the literacy tests they were given in order to vote. They would also be able to pay poll taxes considering they would have better jobs than they did at the